Psalm 5

David prays in the morning. He recalls God’s loving kindness and bows toward the Tent of Meeting. God surrounds him with favor as with a shield.

MORNING PRAYER

For the Chief Musician, with the flutes. A Psalm by David.

VERSE 1. Give ear to my words, LORD. Consider my meditation.

VERSE 2. Listen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God; for I pray to you.

VERSE 3. LORD, in the morning you shall hear my voice. In the morning I will lay my requests before you, and will watch expectantly.

in the morning. David’s first thoughts in the morning were prayer. Because of that, some people refer to this Psalm as “Morning Prayer.”

VERSE 4. For you are not a God who has pleasure in wickedness. Evil can’t live with you.

VERSE 5. The arrogant shall not stand in your sight. You hate all workers of iniquity.

VERSE 6. You will destroy those who speak lies. The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

VERSE 7. But as for me, in the abundance of your loving kindness I will come into your house. I will bow toward your holy temple in reverence of you.

loving kindness. The Hebrew word is khesed. It means “loyal love.”

your house. Some people interpret this to mean “the temple.” And because Solomon built the temple after David died, David could not have written this psalm. However, the Hebrew word is heikal. It simply means “house.” It could be used for the Tent of Meeting.

I will bow. The Hebrew word is שָׁחָה (“shachah”). It signifies prostrating oneself. This denotes the proper inner attitude toward God in worship.

VERSE 8. Lead me, LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies. Make your way straight before my face.

VERSE 9. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth. Their heart is destruction. Their throat is an open tomb. They flatter with their tongue.

NLT translation: “For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love.”

the righteous. That is, godly people.

surround him with favor as with a shield. God clothes his people with spiritual armor, to protect them and keep them safe. For more on this, see Ephesians 6:13-17:

Ephesians 6:13-17. Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace, 16 above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;